While interacting with Scientist and Staff of ICAR institutions in Coimbatore viz., ICAR – Sugarcane Breeding Institute and the Regional Centres of ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research and ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, he urged to focus on those technologies that will increase the productivity with less production costs. Sugarcane could play a significant role in achieving the Honorable Prime Minister’s vision of doubling the income of Indian farmers, provided improved cane varieties are evolved to tackle new challenges such as climate change and less water availability, he added.

He also inaugurated the ‘Pollen Collection Chamber’ facility and the sugarcane planting operations in the Institute’s ‘National Hybridization Garden (NHG)’. The Institute supports the breeding programmes of over 22 State Sugarcane Research Stations across the country by extending these two facilities.

Shri Bhagat later visited the experimental fields and witnessed the newly developed “Sugarcane sett treatment device” and “Mechanized sugarcane settling transplanter” in operation.

Earlier, Dr. Bakshi Ram, Director, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute briefed about the major activities and achievements of the Institute.